Page 27

“Bex, I promise it wouldn’t be funny. You would be screaming my name, not laughing at my XL.”

“You almost had me, Basilio. Now go to sleep.” She scoffs as she gets back in her bed.

I shake out the sheets and blanket before straightening thebed and slide in. This time, she turns out the lights, but an hour later, I’m jostled awake by her hand. “John, scoot over.”

I scoot over with my ass hanging over the side, but I lift the bedding, and she wiggles into me. Too tired to ask why she changed her mind I decide to pull her under my wing and hold her tight. A peaceful calm breath escapes her lips, and I’m hoping it means that Becca feels like I do—there’s no place she would rather be.

Eventually, I quit thinking about my future and caress the present. My eyes are closed with my arm enveloping her and hand tucked under her side.

When morning comes, her body faces me. Her head is nestled under my chin with her hands under the side of her face. And her knees are in dangerous proximity to my package. One wrong move, and I’ll be doubled over in pain, so I open my knees and pull her top leg between them.

I breathe in the sweet smell of coconut as my nose sinks into her hair, and I listen to the occasional tranquil sounds from her chest, as they lull me back to sleep.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The noise of the group chat dings regardless of how much I wish it away. I would love to stay in bed with Becca all day, all night and start all over again.

I attempt to sneak out of bed since she’s out cold. But this bed is tiny, and any move I make is heavy. So, I brush the hair from her face and say, “I have to get in the shower. We’re going golfing this morning.”

“Hmmm.”

Damn she’s cute.

“I have to go.”

“No. I’m comfortable.”

Yeah, this is why Becca and I would never work out. Anytime she asked me to stay home from a workout or practice, I would choose her every time.

“Five more minutes, please. I didn’t sleep last night.”

I know she did, but I’ll pretend so I have a reason to stay. “Okay.”

With one hand, I send a group message.

“Give me thirty minutes.”

I turn off the notifications, so the responses don’t wake Becca up again.

Corbin: Why?

Reed: Because he’s too big for a twin bed.

Dane: I can’t imagine.

Reed: Your knees would be hanging off the bed.

Corbin: Get your ass up.

Somehow, I scooch out of bed and take a few seconds to soak in the sight. When I get out of the shower, the group chat messages are still rolling in.

Logan: You’re fine. I’m just now picking up Hagan and Adalee from the airport.

Flynn: Bets on who will be yelling “fore” the most.

Coleman: Easy, Corbin.

Corbin: You can barely swing the stick, much less a cluband hit a tiny ball.